Perfect day for Atlético de Madrid after their vital victory against Real Mallorca and Real Madrid's surprising narrow defeat in their visit to Espanyol. The red-and-whites are now just one point away from reaching the top of the standings, turning next week's classic into a true final. Last night's match was very important for one of the players of the colchonero team, as he needed to prove himself.
This is about Koke, who has seen his prominence decrease significantly this season, being relegated to a much more secondary role than usual. He has started a couple of consecutive matches thanks to the suspensions of some teammates, allowing him to show a better level. Everything points to him returning to the bench against Getafe, but he is putting up a fight to earn more minutes.
Koke earns praise
Obviously, it is not being an easy campaign for the red-and-white captain, as he has been forced to spend more time on the bench than expected. The step forward by Rodrigo de Paul and the emergence of Pablo Barrios have forced Simeone to change his formation and idea. Both are the starting double pivot, while Kokehas become another rotation piece in recent months, something many didn't expect.
However, due to absence reasons, he has had to start in the last two matches, once again becoming the player everyone expected at the Metropolitano yesterday. He was able to show that leadership that has been seen so many times in the last decade, making it clear that he still wants to fight for a spot. The schedule remains very demanding, and Simeone will need 100% from all his squad players to compete for all titles.
Warning to his competition
While waiting for a reinforcement for the midfield to be finalized, it is evident that Koke is ready to take advantage of any slip-up by his teammates. For example, Pablo Barrios has experienced a slight dip in recent weeks, something that has been noted in some of Atlético de Madrid's stumbles. Additionally, it is inevitable that there will continue to be suspensions or physical problems, ensuring that any player will have to start at some point.
On the other hand, Koke hasn't yet renewed his contract with the club, an issue that must be solved in the coming months, before summer. The last agreement set both parties to talk at the end of each season, indicating that it will be an exclusive decision of the Spanish midfielder. It seems strange that the homegrown player could make the decision to leave the Metropolitano, although it is a possibility until he signs.